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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000 03-21 PRM• MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION MARCH 21, 2000 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Sorenson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chair Sorenson, Commissioners Ebert, Mead, Peterson, Russell and Shinnick were present. Commissioner Theis was absent and excused. Also in attendance were City Council Liaison Ed Nelson, Public Works Director Diane Spector and Community Activities, Recreation and Services Director Jim Glasoe. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - February 15, 2000 There was a motion by Commissioner Shinnick, seconded by Commissioner Ebert to • approve the February 15, 2000 minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission as presented. The motion passed unanimously. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Council Liaison Ed Nelson shared with the Commission the latest information on a revised bleacher safety bill that was making its way through the Legislature. Liaison Nelson reminded the Commission of the requirements of maintaining our Tree City USA status. In addition, Liaison Nelson reported that the National League of Cities currently is promoting its Institute for Youth, Education and Families. Some of the activities identified by the Institute include youth councils and "asset" building programs. Liaison Nelson discussed the Washington Monument scaffolding that has been proposed to be relocated to a park in Minneapolis. Liaison Nelson indicated that, if this plan fails, Brooklyn Center might want to consider being a site for the structure. Liaison Nelson Passed along information he had received from the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area initiative. Council Liaison Nelson closed his comments by answering Commissioner questions regarding the Jerry's site, Brookdale transit issues and City Hail revisions. Liaison Nelson left the meeting at 7:35 p.m. DRAFT OF FIRST TIER TRAILS, GREENWAYS AND PARKS PLAN Public Works Director Spector discussed the draft First Tier Trails, Greenways and Parks Plan that had been developed by Suburban Hennepin Parks. Ms. Spector indicated that Hennepin Parks was interested in having a "presence" in the first tier communities. In general, Commission discussion of the draft plan is summarized as follows: The Commission appreciates the fact that Hennepin Parks is working to facilitate the development of recreational trail corridors. However, the Commission is concerned that Hennepin Parks conceives the proposed trail systems as solely Hennepin Parks owned and operated. Many of the proposed trail links, both in Brooklyn Center and other communities, would utilize existing or planned city trails. As with the Shingle Creek Trail and its role as an important link in the North Hennepin Regional Trail, the Commission strongly believes in local ownership and control over local trails. In accordance with that belief, the Commission is willing to co-designate a trail as both a city trail and as a link in a regional trail, but is unwilling to relinquish ownership or control. The Commission believes that urban trails such as those being proposed are indistinguishable by the general public from other city trails, and thus should be maintained in a manner similar to other trails. It was the consensus of the Park and Recreation Commission that: 1. They were eager to see additional recreational trails be available; • 2. They were unwilling to give up ownership and control of trails; 3. They were in favor of maintaining all trails in the city in a consistent manner; 4. They were in favor of negotiating with Hennepin Parks to the effect of: "You give us money to build trails, we'll build them, you give us money to maintain them, we'll maintain them, if we want a higher level of service than you would provide, we will pay for that, we'll own them but you can designate them as part of the Hennepin Parks trail system." The Commission felt that the position stated in item #4 above would provide Hennepin Parks with visibility in the inner tier suburbs and would credit them with facilitating the cooperative development of trails, but would not burden them with adding personnel to maintain facilities; they would simply contract with cities to provide a certain minimum level of maintenance. Capital funds provided by Hennepin Parks would be an incentive for cities to construct trails that they otherwise may not have planned to do, or to construct them at a faster pace. Specific Comments Hennepin Parks has proposed a Brooklyn Center/Robbinsdale Corridor, which was reviewed by the Commission. Utility Corridor v. 53rd Avenue Utility Corridor Option Pro: • Is a nice 75 foot wide corridor with periodic towers to go around, but probably uncomplicated easement rights to acquire. (NSP has reportedly said they would be interested) Residents would be assured of more regular maintenance than NSP provides. The corridor would end at Logan, where there is an existing sidewalk to go north to Grandview or south to 57th. Con: Probable neighborhood opposition. Would require a new sidewalk or on-street trail on Camden from the easement south to 57th Avenue, to use the existing sidewalk to make the connection to N Mississippi Regional Trail. Doesn't "go" anywhere. The trail would head west from the N Mississippi Regional Park on the 57th Avenue sidewalk, then head north into a residential neighborhood, then head west on • the utility corridor until it came to an end up against the back of the Northbrook shopping center. At that point, trail users would have to ride through a commercial area on the sidewalk until they got to the North Lilac trail, where they would go off road again until they got to the Shingle Creek Trail. 53rd Avenue Option Pro: Would link with the Humboldt Greenway, which in turn links with the Grand Round. Would fit in with long-term redevelopment plans. Would directly link one regional trail (N Mississippi) with another (N Hennepin), along a residential street. Would be consistent with Minneapolis' plan to create a parkway along 49th from Humboldt to N Mississippi. • Con: Would require substantial acquisition of property for redevelopment, or acquisition of easements. Longer term project. • The Park and Recreation Commission prefers the 53rd Avenue option. The primary reasons are that 1) it better fits in with long-term planning; and 2) it "goes" somewhere, that is, it is a direct link between two regional trails. Middle Section of Trail Redevelopment of Brookdale provides an opportunity to create a trail link across the center. For example, a trail could be created along the south side, adjacent to the highway fence. The trail could curve up to 55th, and use a sidewalk on 55th to cross Xerxes and Brooklyn Boulevard. Old Osseo Road, 53rd and France Avenue will need reconstruction in the next five years and are tentatively scheduled for 2005. The actual date would depend upon the TH 100 reconstruction schedule; we would not want to be reconstructing those streets until the new France Avenue interchange is completed. This reconstruction provides the opportunity to • construct the trail link as a combination of off-street trail, sidewalk, and possibly on-street trail. Twin Lakes Area: France Ave v. E Twin Lake Blvd: France Pro: The Old Osseo/53rd/France reconstruction is an opportunity to incorporate trail or dedicated bike lane. France option would connect to the trail planned to be constructed along the south side of the relocated France Avenue. On the realigned France, the trail would cross the railroad at a protected crossing. Con: France Avenue is busier street than E Twin Lake Boulevard. E Twin Lake Blvd is Pro: Quieter street for on-street trail. Leads directly to city-owned open space at the south end of Upper Twin Lake with potential for long-term future recreational development. Con: This trail would require a connection to the realigned France Avenue across the city-owned open space which is mostly wetland. While this is something we may want to do long-term when a reasonable plan for recreational development is in place, there are a number of issues which make it tricky. Railroad corridor alternative unlikely. The Park and Recreation Commission prefers the France Avenue option. The primary reason is that it is a more direct connection to the new trail being constructed with the proposed France Avenue realignment. South Segment of Trail • The trail across the west part of the Joslyn site is likely infeasible, and should be removed from consideration. Even if the MPCA does eventually de-list the west portion of the site (i.e., certify that it is "clean" enough to be used again), the railroad was unwilling to allow a trail crossing, and at this point is only accepting of a protected trail crossing at the proposed realigned France Avenue. The realigned France Avenue trail would fork to the east and west. To the east, the trail would continue along Lakebreeze, then across the new France Avenue highway bridge and continue down France Avenue to the Robbinsdale border. To the west, the trail would continue on-street on Lakebreeze to Twin Lake Avenue to Twin Lake Park, where a new trail link from the park across the bridge to Robbinsdale would be constructed with the TH 100 project. Ms. Spector reported that the Commission comments would be summarized and passed along to the City Council at their next meeting. DESTINATION PARK PLANNING Public Works Director Spector reminded the Commission of last month's discussion regarding Destination Parks. The Commission continued discussion regarding the concepts and issues related to the development of Destination Parks Plan. After considerable discussion, the Commission identified some areas for further • consideration. These improvements included a larger shelter building at Grandview, plus some rearrangement of the facilities; a larger picnic shelter at West Palmer, plus some addition to the playground equipment; a permanent band shell and a large destination playground at Central, along with some rearrangement of facilities; an outdoor water play feature in Central, preferably adjacent to the Community Center, an environmental interpretive center at Palmer Lake. ADOPT-A-PARK, TRAIL, STREET Commissioner Mead informed the Commission that its two year commitment to clean Marlin and Lakeside Parks was up for renewal. In addition, Commissioner Mead informed the Commission that April 22 had been established as the "kick off" date for this year's clean up. In conclusion, Commissioner Mead noted that he had served as the Commission liaison to this program for the past many years, and asked if another Commissioner might consider acting as the liaison in the future. After some discussion, the Commission unanimously agreed to extend its Commitment to the Adopt-A-Park, Trail and Street program. In addition, Commissioner Mead was reappointed as the Commission liaison. COMMISSION RECOGNITION Chair Sorenson informed the Commission that the City Council is planning a Commission • Recognition event for April 17 at 6:30 p.m. in Constitution Hall. Chair Sorenson indicated that all Commissioners would be receiving an invitation by mail. SET NEXT MEETING DATE The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission was set for April 18 at 7:00 p.m. in Conference Room A at City Hall. MEETING ADJOURNED Commissioner Russell made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shinnick, to adjourn the meeting at 8:26 p.m. The motion passed. 0